A 45-year-old man has been charged with multiple offences across New South Wales, including deliberately setting fire to a cathedral in the state's far north.
An investigation into the arson attack at St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore led police to link the fire with four other incidents across the state over the past week.
Police allege the Castle Hill man used a knife to threaten a woman in Griffith, in south-west NSW on September 14, demanding she give him her car keys before fleeing the area in her vehicle.
Following the car-jacking, it is alleged the man committed further theft and fraud offences in both the Riverina and Dubbo regions.
Police say that on September 15 the man threatened a girl outside a shopping centre in Hornsby with a large knife, demanding she hand over her cash.
The girl managed to flee and the accused left empty-handed.
On Friday, police responded to a large fire at St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore, that detectives believe was deliberately lit.
Police located a man in Lismore's CBD yesterday and used a taser gun to subdue him after he allegedly threatened officers with a large knife.
The man was charged with multiple offences, including damage to property by fire, armed robbery and using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention.
He appeared at Lismore Local Court today where bail was formally refused.
He is due to appear before a Magistrate at the Lismore Local Court tomorrow.
